The news of Wang Yin's arrest spread like wildfire. It dominated every headline, every trending topic. Videos of her being led away in handcuffs played on repeat.
"Justice is finally served!"
"She thought she could escape? Ridiculous!"
"Karma never fails!"
The entertainment industry was shaken. Major stars who once supported Wang Yin quickly deleted their past posts. Brands distanced themselves. Even her so-called friends acted as if they had never known her.
Zi Ning sat in Lu Yichen's office, watching the chaos unfold with a quiet expression.
Jiang Yue scrolled through her phone. "She's done. Even if she somehow gets out of prison, her reputation is ruined forever."
Lu Yichen leaned back, tapping his fingers on the desk. "It's not over yet."
Zi Ning nodded. "Wang Yin is dangerous, but she wasn't acting alone. There are still people backing her."
Jiang Yue frowned. "You think Guo Bao is involved?"
Zi Ning's eyes darkened. "It's not just Guo Bao. There's a bigger force behind this."
At that moment, Zhou Wei entered with a serious expression. "Miss Zi Ning, you were right. There's movement from the Guo family."
Zi Ning's lips curled. "What did they do?"
"They're trying to suppress the news about Wang Yin's arrest. They've contacted high-level officials and media outlets to remove articles."
Jiang Yue's jaw dropped. "They're still protecting her?"
Lu Yichen scoffed. "The Guo family isn't protecting Wang Yin. They're protecting themselves. If Wang Yin talks, she might drag them down with her."
Zi Ning's fingers tapped lightly against the table. "Then we need to make sure she talks."
Zhou Wei nodded. "I've already sent people to keep an eye on her. But there's another problem."
Zi Ning raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"There's been an assassination attempt."
Jiang Yue gasped. "What? Who?"
Zhou Wei's voice was grim. "Wang Xue's father."
A chilling silence filled the room.
Zi Ning's eyes narrowed. "Where is he now?"
"He's in the hospital. He was attacked late last night, but he survived."
Jiang Yue's hands clenched into fists. "This is disgusting. They really don't want him to speak."
Lu Yichen's voice was calm but dangerous. "This means Wang Yin isn't the only one who wanted him silenced. Someone even more powerful is pulling the strings."
Zi Ning's heart burned with anger. She had expected Wang Yin to retaliate, but she didn't think they would target an innocent father who only wanted justice for his daughter.
She stood up. "I want protection for him. He's the key witness. If they silence him, Wang Yin might walk free."
Zhou Wei nodded. "Already arranged. But we need to be careful. Whoever did this won't stop here."
Zi Ning's expression hardened. "Let them come. I'll be ready."
The Guo family mansion was eerily quiet.
Guo Bao sat in the large study, his face dark. Across from him sat his father, Guo Jiancheng, the true head of the Guo family.
"You've failed." Guo Jiancheng's voice was cold.
Guo Bao clenched his fists. "Father, we didn't expect Zi Ning to have such strong backing."
Guo Jiancheng's sharp gaze landed on him. "A woman like her should've been easy to crush. Yet here she is, destroying everything we built."
Guo Bao's throat was dry. "It's not just her. Lu Yichen is protecting her."
Guo Jiancheng scoffed. "Lu Yichen? He was never a threat before. Why is he involved now?"
Guo Bao hesitated. "…There are rumors that he has feelings for her."
A dangerous silence followed.
Guo Jiancheng's fingers tapped against the desk. "If Lu Yichen is protecting her personally, then this is more troublesome than I thought."
Guo Bao gritted his teeth. "What should we do?"
Guo Jiancheng's eyes were cold. "Wang Yin is a lost cause. The police have her now. Let her take the fall."
Guo Bao stiffened. "But she knows too much—"
"That's why she needs to disappear."
Guo Bao swallowed. His father's words were clear. They were going to eliminate Wang Yin before she could talk.
Guo Jiancheng continued, "As for Zi Ning, we will deal with her differently. If Lu Yichen is her protector, then we must separate them."
Guo Bao's heart pounded. "How?"
His father smirked. "By giving him a reason to turn against her."
Meanwhile, in the hospital, Wang Xue's father was unconscious in his bed. His face was pale, and his body was covered in bruises from the attack.
Outside the hospital room, Zi Ning stood silently.
Jiang Yue sighed. "I can't believe they attacked him. What kind of monsters are they?"
Zi Ning's hands clenched. "The kind that doesn't care about human life."
She turned to Zhou Wei. "Any updates on the attackers?"
Zhou Wei's face was grim. "They were professionals. No fingerprints, no security footage, nothing."
Lu Yichen arrived just then, his presence commanding. "I've sent people to watch over the hospital. He'll be safe from now on."
Zi Ning exhaled slowly. "Thank you."
Lu Yichen studied her face. "You don't look surprised."
Zi Ning's lips curled. "Because I knew this would happen. Wang Yin was desperate, and desperate people do desperate things."
Jiang Yue muttered, "Still, to go this far…"
Zi Ning turned to Lu Yichen. "Can you arrange a press conference for me?"
Lu Yichen's eyebrows raised. "Press conference?"
Zi Ning's eyes were sharp. "The Guo family is trying to erase the truth. We need to make sure the whole world hears it before they can cover it up."
Lu Yichen's lips curled into a rare smile. "Smart move. Consider it done."
Jiang Yue grinned. "Time to flip the game again."
The next day, the media exploded with a new announcement:
"Zi Ning to hold an emergency press conference regarding Wang Yin's crimes."
The public was already on fire with speculation.
"What else does she have to say?"
"Is this about Wang Xue's father being attacked?"
"I bet she's going to expose the people backing Wang Yin!"
The Guo family watched the announcement with dark expressions.
Guo Jiancheng's eyes flashed with anger. "This woman doesn't know her place."
Guo Bao gritted his teeth. "Should we stop the press conference?"
His father's lips curled into a smirk. "No. Let her talk. Once she does, we'll destroy her."
At the press conference hall, reporters flooded in, cameras flashing nonstop.
Zi Ning walked onto the stage, her back straight, her expression calm but determined.
Lu Yichen sat in the front row, his eyes never leaving her.
The room went silent as she stepped up to the microphone.
Taking a deep breath, she looked directly into the cameras.
And then, she spoke.
"This is not just about Wang Yin. This is about the powerful people who think they can control everything… and get away with murder."
A storm was about to break.